1. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs

2. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
What does the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) do?
Consumer Protection
Production Agriculture
Healthy Living
Economic Development

3. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
What does the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) do?
Consumer Protection
Regulates all fuel pumps in Texas to ensure drivers get the correct quality and amount of fuel
Regulates all weights and measures devices, such as grocery store scales and retail price scanners, to ensure consumers are charged advertised prices
Regulates pesticide use and application from residential to commercial use
Certifies organically-produced products to help ensure consumers have a reliable supply of organic products

4. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
What does the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) do?
Production Agriculture
Protects agricultural crops from harmful pests and diseases
Facilitates trade and market development of agricultural commodities such as livestock and crops (cattle, cotton, hay, sheep, wool, goats, mohair and horses)
Provides financial assistance to farmers and ranchers with loan guarantees, interest rate reductions and grants for young farmers and agricultural research to develop new technologies
Advocates for policies at federal, state, and local levels to Texas’ $106 billion agriculture sector (10% of the Texas economy)

5. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
What does the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) do?
Healthy Living
Administers the National School Lunch and Breakfast programs for Texas school children
Fights obesity in Texas through a statewide campaign highlighting the 3E's of Healthy Living - Education, Exercise and Eating Right
Administers assistance to feed the hungry through the Texans Feeding Texans initiative

6. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
What does the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) do?
Economic Development
Provides tools for communities to attract businesses and pursue other economic development opportunities
Offers infrastructure grants to rural communities
Administers the Certified Retirement Community program to attract retirees to the second leading retirement state in the U.S.
Markets Texas products, cultures and communities through the GO TEXAN branded campaign

7. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
Rural Economic Development Resources
Federal
US Department of Agriculture (USDA), US Economic Development Administration (EDA), Small Business Association (SBA)
State
Governor’s Office Rural Development
Texas Department of Agriculture
Comptroller of Public Accounts
Texas Workforce Commission
Regional and Local
Council of Governments (COGs), Chambers of Commerce, Small Business Development Centers, etc.

8. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
TDA Division Trade & Business Development:
The Office of Rural Affairs
Marketing and International Trade
Grants

9. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
TDA Division Trade & Business Development:
The Office of Rural Affairs
Dedicated to enhancing the economic vitality and quality of life in rural Texas.
Provides rural communities with tools to attract and retain businesses, expand and improve public infrastructure, and secure quality health care (available federal funds, statewide outreach).
Provides financial assistance to agricultural producers, especially young farmers and ranchers, to expand their production capabilities.

10. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
TDA Division Trade & Business Development:
Marketing and International Trade
GO TEXAN - Promotes Texas agriculture, businesses and communities on the state, national and international levels.
Products, Wines/Wineries, Restaurants, Farmer’s Markets, Certified Retirement Communities, Associates
“Whether it’s grown, sewn or served on a plate”, GO TEXAN guides the 25 million Texans who shop, travel and dine out to support Texas businesses and agriculture.

11. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
TDA Division Trade & Business Development:
Grants
Administers numerous state and federal grants, loans and cooperative agreements available to farmers/ranchers, universities and schools, non-profits and private entities across Texas.

12. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
SMALL TOWNS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (STEP)
Provides funds to eligible applicants for water and sewer infrastructure improvements utilizing local volunteers and self-help methods.
Demonstrate a 40% cost savings off the retail price.
Must benefit at least 51% LMI persons in the project area.
Demonstrate local commitment and capacity through the availability of skilled volunteer labor; donated equipment with operators and strong local leadership.

13. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
SMALL TOWNS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (STEP)
STEP grant is offered on a competitive bi-annual basis with grant amounts up to $350,000. The grant covers:
Cost of construction materials;
Acquisition;
Limited equipment rental and contracted services such as road boring;
Engineering and administration professional services.
No local match is required - “Sweat equity” counts as the community’s local match.

14. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
SMALL TOWNS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (STEP) Process
Community recognizes a water or sewer problem, holds preliminary meetings with to determine local capacity, interested parties and volunteers.
Submit letter to TDA requesting visit with community
Town Hall Meeting is scheduled with the community to discuss and demonstrate. (3 spark plugs)
Submit an Assessment to TDA.
TDA staff meets to discuss and review; Invite; Apps reviewed and scored; Awarded.

15. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs
SMALL TOWNS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAM (STEP) Contact
For more information on the STEP Program please contact Tammie Fulton, STEP Coordinator or

16. Texas Department of Agriculture
Economic and Community Development Programs

17. Texas Department of Agriculture
William Rice